De'Angelo Smith enters his third year as the cornerbacks coach on Frank Solich's Ohio coaching staff in 2019.

In his first two years at Ohio, the Bobcats have won 18 games -- including back-to-back bowl wins. After rolling to a 41-6 victory over UAB in the 2017 Bahamas Bowl, Ohio became the first Mid-American Conference team to post a shutout in a bowl win, blanking San Diego State, 27-0, in the 2018 DXL Frisco Bowl.

The 2018 season saw the continued development of a young cornerbacks room, with sophomore Marlin Brooks logging 41 total tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception and sophomore Jamal Hudson finishing right behind Brooks with 39 total tackles, tallying one interception and leading the team with 13 passes defensed and 12 pass breakups. The cornerbacks helpd Ohio lead both NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mid-American Conference with 32 turnovers gained.

In his first year on the Ohio staff in 2017, redshirt senior cornerback Bradd Ellis garnered All-MAC Third Team honors after ranking fifth on the team with 59 total tackles, picking off two passes and tallying one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

A former NFL defensive back, Smith comes to Ohio following three years working at Michigan State. He worked primarily with the defensive backs under Harlon Barnett, serving as a graduate assistant his final two years in East Lansing. In 2014, Smith served as an operations assistant for the Spartans.

Smith was a three-year letterwinner as both a cornerback and safety at Cincinnati (2006-08). As a senior in 2008, Smith was named the recipient of UC's Brig Owens Award (outstanding back) after tallying 53 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and a pair of interceptions in helping the Bearcats win the Big East Championship and land a berth in the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech. As a junior in 2007, Smith earned second-team All-BIG EAST honors and set a Bearcat single-season record with eight interceptions, which also tied for most in the NCAA FBS.

Smith was selected in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft (No. 143 overall) by the Dallas Cowboys. He played in seven games during the 2009 NFL season for the Detroit Lions, recording 16 tackles.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Smith earned first-team all-state honors as a senior while playing for Independence High School. He graduated from Cincinnati in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and earned a master's degree in education at Michigan State.